SUBVERTING Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

subverting

verb

present participle of subvert

as in corrupting

to lower in character, dignity, or quality by insisting that she pay me for helping her, she subverted my noble desire to do a good deed without reward

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of subverting No artist has had more fun subverting the conventions of the track ID than Kieran Hebden, better known as Four Tet. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 18 July 2026 There must be accountability for Supreme Court justices that have taken part in subverting American democracy. — Oliver Adams Larkin, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026 Chronicle is one of the best superhero movies of the modern era, subverting many of the genre’s tropes and character types while indulging the right amount of camp and spectacle (and all under 90 minutes). — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026 These movies are about shocking and surprising the audience by setting up an expectation and then subverting that expectation. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026 His work was often political, with his cartoonish art prints and couture creations subverting racist iconography from American history. — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 2 June 2026 The Gucci outfits created by then-creative director Alessandro Michele that Lauro sported on stage for his 2020 participation at the Sanremo Music Festival sparked days of online conversation for subverting rigid gender norms and reimagining sacred Italian iconography. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 26 May 2026 The inaugural season was about subverting expectations. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026 In the Placer County foothills, one winery is subverting expectations and offering wine tasting experiences at a staggeringly low cost. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subverting

Verb

Character also involves standing up to people who are bankrupting and corrupting this country.

— CBS News, CBS News, 31 May 2026
An early discussion about social contracts comes down to us in Plato’s dialogue Crito in which Socrates, condemned to death for allegedly corrupting the youth, refused an offer to escape from prison.

— George G. Szpiro, Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026

Definition of corrupting

Verb

Over the years, old plastic can yellow and become brittle, a sign that the product is degrading and quite literally falling apart.

— Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 17 July 2026
This helps avoid harming pollinators like bees and prevents the sun from degrading the pesticide or burning the plants.

— Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026

Definition of degrading

Verb

Or would that strategy end up weakening the forces tasked with holding the line against Russia?

— Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Sleep deprivation makes leaders less perceptive and human, weakening their presence and effectiveness with people, whereas quality sleep is essential for fostering authentic, influential leadership.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of weakening

Verb

Keeping your lawn and garden well-maintained can also help reduce grasshopper populations by destroying their breeding habitat.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
But the Pentagon’s youthful set of avid desk-warriors forget that big hurricanes and regional weather events regularly disrupt waterfront facilities on the Gulf and East coasts, destroying worker housing and permanently peeling away shipbuilders.

— Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of destroying

Verb

Distilling the spirit to proof rather than diluting it allows the agave character and nuances of the production process to take center stage.

— Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Most experts recommend starting with 15-30 milliliters (mL), or 1-2 tablespoons, and diluting it with a full glass of water or tea.

— Sarah Bradley, Health, 8 July 2026

Definition of diluting

Verb

According to court documents, Wilson’s relationship with the producers had started deteriorating before filming began in 2023 – and worsened during post-production.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
The unusual decision cites a deteriorating consumer environment, FullBeauty's debt, and substantial shareholder dilution.

— Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of deteriorating

Browse Nearby Words

subverters

subverting

subverts

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Subverting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subverting. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of subverting

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on subverting

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

kludge

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes